How to Quit Vaping: A Murder Mystery

Part I

The sun set hours ago. Outside, you can’t see more than a few feet away, the trees are hiding in the distance, and not even the moonlight can see them. But you can hear; you can still hear the crickets, their chirping is louder than ever this time of year, and you can hear the heavy rain, hitting the fallen leaves on the ground, and you can hear the music from inside, although muffled.

Inside is dimly lit, you can barely see what’s inside the red solo cups gathered at the dining room table. The family pictures set on the walls and side tables are hardly recognizable, one could easily mix up Sophie and Rose in them, except in the living room. The living room is lively, that’s where the small party ended up, it’s lit up by the lights above the small island, dividing the kitchen and the living room. Sophie and Todd are nestled on the loveseat. To the left of Sophie is Alex, AKA “Todd’s boy”, which was the way he introduced himself to Sophie for the first time. To the right of Todd is Rose, she’s smoking a joint, and passes it counterclockwise to Ivan, who skips himself, laughing; “I’m good”.

Jon stops mid-sip of his drink to take a small hit. He holds it in and blows out. He lets out a small cough and saves himself with another sip from his beer. Ivan rubs his shoulder. He lets out a grunt. 

“I’m good, too,” he says while holding it out to his right. “Vick?”

Vicky is practicing breathing on the couch. She looks over and shakes her head. 

“Careful, she might puke all over you,” Says Todd. Sophie and Alex laugh. Jon takes a paranoid scooch closer to Ivan. Everyone but Vicky laughs.

“I think I need to lie down…” Vick states, followed by a hiccup. She gets up slowly.

“You need help, Vick?” Sophie asks. Vicky looks down at Sophie on the couch, “I’m okay”. Sophie’s concerned, she asks again; “You sure?”

“She said she’s fine, Soph,” says Todd. Who puts his hand on Sophie’s leg. Ivan notices this and holds back a frown. Vicky confirms to the crowd that she’s fine.

“Okay, well, you can use my room, okay?” Sophie looks at Vicky. She smiles quickly and uses whatever energy she can emit to thank her. Vicky walks away from the group, Alex watches her leave before bringing some of his attention back to the group.

“Alright let’s continue the game.” declares Rose. Todd salutes her, “Yes, sir!”

Sophie laughs but nudges Todd, who chuckles. Rose mocks Todd’s laugh. “You go first Rose”, says Sophie. All eyes on Rose. “Okay, fingers up” she says, “Never have I ever…”, she thinks for a moment, “Never have I ever slept with a man before.” 

Todd looks over to Jon and Ivan, “You two, fingers down.” Jon is deadpan. Ivan takes his middle finger and flips it upside down. Sophie giggles and takes a drink.

Jon and Ivan sip their beers while they stare down Rose, who carries a huge smirk. Ivan gives her the finger. “It was too easy", she says. 

“Okay my turn,” says Ivan, “Let me think, oh, Never have I ever slept with a woman before. Rose drink.” Rose bursts out laughing while taking a drink. She puts down a finger. “That’s hot,” Todd says with a smile. Sophie nudges him again. “You’re gross”, says Rose. “What?” Todd asks Sophie, she tells him “Take your drink”. Todd smiles and takes his sip.

He notices Jon’s holding his finger down.

“Hey, Ivan in drag doesn’t count,” says Todd, “Fuck you, Todd.”

Jon makes eye contact with Sophie, who’s holding in a laugh. He smiles, “It was actually your girlfriend.” Laughter breaks loose. Todd looks around the room, back and forth from Jon and Sophie. He stops at Sophie, they make eye contact. “What does he mean?” 

“He means he and Soph fucked!” shouts Rose. Todd is blank. 

“Relax, I lost my virginity to Jon in highschool, when we were dating” says Sophie. “Back when he was a straight man,” Jon laughs. He adds; “Yeah, she actually turned me gay so I’d watch out.” Sophie laughs, “Yeah, you were so straight before” Jon laughs. “I don’t think this is funny”, says Todd. “Oh, boo-hoo, you fuckin’ baby” says Rose. Todd gets frustrated, “Eat me.”

Rose rolls her eyes. 

“Let’s just chill and get back to the game.” Says Sophie. Ivan smiles at her, she smiles back. Todd is still upset. Alex sips his drink. “Skip me, I’m gonna go piss”. Alex gets up and leaves the group. Rose looks at Sophie and she gives her a look of disgust, Sophie laughs.

Jon is looking around the couch, looking for his vape. “Ivan, you see my Vape?”. Ivan shakes his head, ”Sorry” he adds. “Dammit, I’m feeling withdrawals.” says Jon as he laughs. Ivan starts shaking, and scratching, imitating a person in withdrawal. Jon laughs.

“Todd, play the fucking game, stop whining in silence” says Rose. Todd scoffs, “okay, Rose, never have I ever..”, he thinks, “...burned out, then tried killing myself.” Rose is taken aback. “Todd, what the fuck is wrong with you?” Sophie says with a look of disgust. Todd sips his drink. Jon and Ivan are quiet. Rose is thinking. She's pissed. Sophie is worried, and tongue-tied, “Rose, I-”

“Rose, play the fucking game, drink.” says Todd. “Todd, you’re being an asshole. Stop it.” Shouts Sophie. “Im playing the fucking game.” replies Todd.

“Stop it”. Sophie tells him again. Todd rolls his eyes, he scoffs. “You’re always siding with her,” says Todd. Sophie replies “What are you talking about? Todd, what you said was super fucked up.”

“Fuck this” Todd gets up and heads outside, slamming the door. Jon and Ivan look at each other. Rose is staring at Sophie. “Rose, I’m sorry. I-” Rose interrupts Sophie; “I don’t care, Soph”, She shrugs her shoulders, “I don’t, I’m used to dealing with your shitty boyfriends”. Sophie feels awful. 

“You deserve better.” Says Ivan, Jon grabs his hand and shakes his head at him, Ivan shrugs his shoulders. Jon mouths the words; “Not the time.”. Ivan nods his head. Rose gets up. “Where are you going?,” wonders Sophie. “I’m going to bed,” says Rose.

“But, are you mad at me?” Sophie asks. “No, Soph, not everything has to be about you, I’m tired. I’m going to bed.” Rose leaves the room. Sophie is confused. She looks to Jon and Ivan, who are looking directly at her. “I think everyone’s just a little bit fucked up right now” proclaims Jon. Ivan nods. Sophie is teary eyed. “I’m gonna go talk to her,” says Sophie.  She gets up and leaves. 

She makes her way into the hallway. She stops by her room when she hears noises coming from inside. 

“Vick?” She says while creeping in. Alex moves away from Vicky and moves off from the bed, “Shit”, he says. “What the fuck?” says Sophie, “Get the fuck away from her you creep!”

“It isn’t what you think!” Alex says while making his way out of the room. “As fucking if, I saw you touching her!”, Sophie shoves Alex, “She’s seventeen you fucking-” Alex leaves the room. Sophie rushes up to Vicky, “Vick, you okay? What happened?”

“Soph? What happened?” Vicky is half asleep. Sophie hugs her, and pets her head. 

Jon and Ivan are still in the living room. “I need to find my vape or I’m gonna break”, states Jon. Ivan laughs, “I’m gonna stay here, I’m cozy.” Jon kisses Ivan on the cheek and gets up, he leaves the room. Todd gets back from inside. “Where’s Soph?”

Ivan wearily points towards the hallway, and Todd marches off.

Sophie closes her bedroom door gently, she steps into the hallway. Todd turns the corner. Sophie rushes up to him. “What now?” says Todd.

Sophie snaps, “Don’t even right now, I just caught your creepy fucking friend touching Vicky while she was half asleep!”

Todd rolls his eyes, “How do you know?”. 

“What do you mean? I just said that I caught- Literally what the fuck is wrong with you tonight! I just told you I caught your friend being a fucking creep, a fucking pedophile! Why the fuck is your first response ‘How do you know?’” Sophie tears up. Todd shakes his head, he’s tongue tied.

“Just keep your friend away from Vicky or I swear I’ll call the cops on both of you.” Sophie turns away crying. She rushes back into the living room. Todd clenches his fists.

Ivan watches Sophie rush through the living room to outside. “Soph!” She doesn’t hear him. He gets up and followers her outside.

Sophie is holding herself, sniffling, letting the tears run down her face. “Soph? What’s up?” asks Ivan, while slowly coming towards her. He puts his hand on her back. They’re quiet for a bit. Ivan hugs her, she buries her head in his shoulder. She pulls away from him gently. “Thanks, Ivan.” she says. “What happened?” he asks.

She shakes her head and breathes, “So much like- I don’t even know, I need to process it.” Ivan nods his head. “Yeah I get that, there was a lot that happened, from just what I saw.”

Sophie breathes out a laugh. “Yeah, sorry about that.” Ivan laughs too, “No, no it’s okay.” He smiles at her. “You’re a good guy, Ivan,” she says with a smirk. He looks into her eyes and leans in to kiss.

Rose passes through the living room and sees Sophie outside, shoving Ivan away. She’s shouting at him, but it’s muffled through the glass. Sophie storms away from him, Rose hides away. Ivan stays still. Sophie marches from outside through the living room to the pool room. Rose sees Ivan vaping outside, he seems worried.

Jon is lying down on one of the chairs. Sophie walks in, pauses, breathes, then continues. She lays down on one of the seats next to Jon. “Hey,” he says. “What the fuck is wrong with everybody tonight?” Jon begins to say something, but is cut off; “Not you” she adds. “Well, unless you plan to do some fucked up shit.” 

“I don’t think I do, except maybe smoke a cigarette. I still can’t find my vape.”

Sophie exhales a quiet laugh. “I’m sorry to hear that.” 

“Yeah, I’ll be fine tho.” He smiles, “What’s going on with you?” he asks. “I just feel like everyone is on one tonight, like first there’s Todd, then the stuff with Rose, then I caught that creep Alex sexually assaulting Vicky-”  

“What?” Jon interrupts.

“Yeah”

“I hate that guy, is she safe?” Jon adds.

“Yeah I think she’s safe right now, I scared him off, he’s probably hiding in the bathroom.” 

“I don’t wanna be that person but like- “ 

Sophie interrupts, “I know.” They sit in silence for a while.

Sophie turns her head over to Jon, he does the same. “Thanks for just sitting here with me. Means a lot.” Jon blows her a kiss. “I love you, Soph.”

“I love you,” she says back. Jon leans forward, “I’m gonna grab us some water, and maybe find my vape.” Sophie nods her head. Jon gets up and leaves the room. Sophie breathes and stares at the water, she closes her eyes.

Jon comes back about ten minutes later, he drops the plastic cup of water to the ground. “Sophie?!” He shouts!

Jon rushes to the side of the bloodstained poolside, he kicks his vape that was lying on the ground. The water is stained red. Sophie’s body floats quietly. Jon jumps in and grabs her lifeless body. He lifts her out of the pool.

“Sophie?!” he screams even louder, lightly tapping her face. “Fuck- SOMEBODY HELP!” Jon holds Sophie’s head close to him. 

Part II

Ivan, and Todd rush in first. Ivan places his hand up to cover his mouth. “What the fuck did you do?” demands Todd. Jon looks up from Sophie’s body and stares at Todd. He opens his mouth, but he can’t talk. “Jon? What the fuck happened?” Todd asks again.

“Jon? What the fuck?”

“I- I- just found her” Jon whispers.

Alex rushes in. “Holy shit…Is she?”

Rose comes in next. She screams and rushes over to her sister’s body. “What happened?” 

Jon shakes his head. “I don’t know,” He says under his breath. He lets her head down slowly and backs away. He looks down at his blood covered sweater and quickly takes it off. He tosses it. 

“I think I’m gonna be sick.” says Alex, before walking out of the room. “Where the fuck are you going?” Todd follows him. Ivan walks up to Jon and reaches his hand out, “We shouldn’t stay here.” 

“We can’t just leave her here like this.” says Rose. Ivan looks at Jon, he gets up and grabs a towel. Jon places the towel over Sophie’s body. Jon grabs Rose, “Come in the other room. We shouldn’t look at this.”

He picks her up. Rose quietly leans on Jon over to the other room. Ivan lags behind, taking one last look at the scene before following the other two out of the room.

Todd is pacing back and forth along the couches while everyone else is sitting silently on the couch. Rose is staring at her clothes stained with her sister’s blood. Todd stops. He looks around the room, making eye-contact with everybody one by one, except Vicky. She must be somewhere sleeping. 

“We should try and find a service to call someone,” says Jon.

“Nobody’s going anywhere,” Todd says with a heavy brow. “One you fuckers killed Sophie.”

“Well we don’t know what happened-” 

Todd interrupts Ivan, “Shut the fuck up..”

Ivan tenses up. Todd looks him dead in the eyes. “Where were you before we found her?”

Ivan is blank. “Let’s not rush to any conclusions-” says Jon. Todd looks at him, “Why? Why aren’t you curious? She was your best friend. Unless you fucking did it?” 

“I just don’t want to make assumptions,” says Jon.

“Well if it is one of us I don’t think we should stand around and wait to see if they have anyone else on their list.” says Todd.

“Where were you Todd?” asks Rose, “I heard Sophie screaming at you just twenty minutes before we found her. Did she press your buttons? What about your boy Alex?” Alex tightens up, “I swear I didn’t do it.” he says.

“Oh, Fuck off Rose! You must be happy she’s dead, now the attention can come back to you!” says Todd.

“Fuck you,” Rose gets up and walks away. “Where the fuck are you going?” 

Todd goes steps forward. Ivan stand in front of him, “Let her go.” Todd realizes everyone is quiet and uncomfortable. “Fuck you guys.” He stays still, and thinks out loud. “Where’s Vicky?”

Rose walks into Sophie’s room and shuts the door. Vicky is laid out on the bed still. Rose goes to lie next to her, “Vicky?” Rose looks at her, concerned. Rose grabs her and shakes her a little. “Vicky, wake up!”

Piercing screams coming from Sophie’s room gets everybody off of the couch. They all make their way to the room. Rose is on the edge of the bed, her back turned away from Vicky. “What happened?” Jon asks worriedly!

“I- I don’t know, I don't think she’s breathing..”

Jon rushes over to her and kneels down to her level. He goes to check her pulse and notices some bruising around her neck. He places his two fingers just under her jaw, “Fuck” he says. He sits on the ground. Todd shakes his head. Rose leaves the room. 

“I’m gunna go stay with her” says Ivan while staring at Jon. Jon nods. Ivan leaves. 

Jon looks at Todd, who seems to be not saying anything for once. “Where’s Alex?” asks Jon. Todd looks behind him, “That fucking- fuck,” he says before storming out the room too.

Jon gets up from the ground and grabs a blanket from the end of the bad and places it over Vicky’s body. He breathes out, and looks at the opened door. 

Todd spots Alex outside, having a smoke. He walks out to join him. “Sucks about Vicky.” Says Alex. Todd is suspicious, “Yeah.” 

“I’m sorry about Soph, too. I just, so much happened. I’m not good with this stuff, man.”

Todd nods, he pulls out a cigarette and lights it. 

“You really think somebody’s killed them?” asks Alex. Todd shrugs his shoulders. He blows his smoke out to Alex. Alex backs up a little.

“The last thing me and Soph did was argue.” says Todd, “We were arguing about you, actually. She said she saw you creeping on Vicky while she was sleeping.” 

“Wel-” Alex chimes in before being interrupted. “I didn’t believe her”

“Bro, come on” Alex scoffs, “You don’t think I killed her do you?” 

Todd takes another drag from his cigarette. “I don’t know, you had good reason to. For both of them.” 

Alex shakes his head. “How long have we known each other?” He scoffs again, before walking towards the sliding doors. Todd takes a last drag before tossing it at Alex’s head. He turns back.

“Hey, fuck off, Todd!” Alex shouts. 

“Don’t walk away.”

Alex turns back around again continuing to the inside. Todd follows.

Jon gets up when he hears Alex and Todd arguing in the living room. “Admit it! You killed them! Fucking admit it, you creep!” Jon hears from the other room, he leaves Sophie’s room. “Fuck off!” Alex screams. It grows quiet. Jon hesitates before heading over into the living room. Ivan comes out of the bathroom, leaving Rose.

“Jon,” he whispers, “What’s going on?” 

Jon shrugs his shoulders. “Where’s Rose?” he asks.

“In the bathroom”, replies Ivan. Jon nods his head. He creeps forward into the living room.

Jon comes to a complete stop when he sees Todd heading over to him, his hands reaching out, and a deep gash in the side of his neck. Blood spills down his clothes. He drops to his knees before faceplanting. Blood flows across the wood tiling. Jon is panicking. He looks up to Alex standing behind the kitchen island, who’s holding the red-stained knife, blood drips onto the tiles. 

“He wouldn’t listen.” 

“Alex,-” Jon mutters.

“He wouldn’t listen.” Alex steps closer to Jon. “I didn’t-”

“Jon, don’t scream,” Alex says before stepping towards Jon again, but he slips on the blood and loses his footing. Jon takes this opportunity to get closer to Alex, but he’s stable again. He points the knife to Jon.

“Where are they?” demands Alex.

“I-” Alex interrupts Jon, “Shut the fuck up! Okay? Where the FUCK are they?”

“I’m here” Ivan walks out into the living room, he looks down at Todd’s corpse. Jon is standing in his blood.

“Rose?” asks Alex.

Ivan snaps out of it, “She’s in the pool room.” 

“What are you thinking Alex?” asks Jon.

Alex stares back and forth from Jon and Ivan, and he looks at his dead friend on the ground.

“Fuck! Okay, okay.” Alex steps forward. 

“Alex, let’s put the knife down, we can talk.” 

“No! It’s too late for that.” 

Jon stumbles over Todd’s body and falls to the ground. Alex walks over to him, Ivan rushes towards him. Alex swings the knife and cuts Ivan on the arm, he backs away. Jon grabs Alex’s leg. 

“Let go!” Alex screams. He bends over to cut Jon but Ivan comes back and pushes him over, he falls backward, and the knife flings out of his hand and slides along the floor. 

Ivan jumps on top of him, pinning his arms down. Jon fixes his position to get a better grip on Alex’s legs.

Rose rushes in. 

“Get something to tie him up!” Jon shouts at Rose. She runs over to the kitchen drawers to find something. Alex squirms one of his arms loose, Ivan uses his free hand to punch Alex in the face. He does it once more. The punch slows Alex down a little bit.

“Hit him again!” says Rose.

Ivan gives him one more blow to the head. Alex isn’t fighting anymore. 

Rose grabs some tape from the drawer and rushes over. She starts with his feet. Jon gets up and helps Ivan flip him over. Rose tapes his hands together. They all get up. Alex isn’t squirming as much, but he’s begun to cry. Rose kicks him in the abdomen. 

“What now?” asks Rose.

Outside, it’s quiet. Jon, Ivan, and Rose sit down on the benches. Their clothes are stained in their friend’s blood. 

“Well, it’s done then, right?” suggests Ivan, “It was Alex.”

“Yeah..” Jon says quietly.

Rose takes a hit from her cigarette. “Rose? What do you think we should do?” asks Ivan. She shakes her head. “I don’t know”.

Jon is staring through the glass of the pool room. He then looks at the bloody mess that’s inside the living room. He looks back at Ivan and Rose. She offers him a hit of her cigarette. 

“Not yet.” says Jon, he gets up and heads inside. “Where are you going?” asks Ivan.

“I’m going to talk to him”

Jon heads into the living room, Ivan and Rose follow him shortly after. 

Jon turns Alex over, he’s still crying. He takes a seat beside him.

“Jon, please, can we tell them it was Todd? Yeah? Fuck that guy! You guys hated him, too. He was a shitty person.” pleads Alex. Jon just stares at him.

“Why did you kill them?” he asks. Ivan and Rose are standing behind him.

“I-” Alex takes a breath.

“Is it because they knew what you did to Vicky?” asks Jon. Alex hesitates to say something. 

“You killed Vicky cause you were scared she’d tell. Didn’t you?” he continues to question. “And Sophie and Todd knew that so you killed them too?”

“I didn’t kill Sophie!” Alex cries.

“Bullshit!” Rose shouts. 

“I didn’t!” Alex pleads. “Jon, I swear I didn’t”

Jon thinks for a moment. “Jon, don’t buy into this creep’s bullshit,” says Rose. Jon gets up. “Jon, please!” Alex begs, “Let’s just talk about this please”

Jon turns back to Rose and Ivan. He has tears falling from his face. “It’s over, Jon,” says Ivan, “We should go back, get some help”. Rose agrees. 

Jon is quiet. 

“Jon?” asks Ivan.

“Yeah… yeah” 

“Okay, I’ll find the keys.” insists Ivan. “They’re in my room,” says Rose.

Ivan leaves the room.

“Guys, don’t leave me here.” cries Alex. They ignore him. “Can I have that cigarette now?” Rose nudges her head towards the outside. “Let’s go”

Jon and Rose walk outside. They stand by the benches. Jon takes another look at the tragedy in the pool room. He spots his vape.

“What’s up?” asks Rose.

“What if Alex was telling the truth?”

“About Sophie? You said yourself he killed her”

Jon thinks, “I know, but, now that I’m thinking. We were all together when we found Sophie, until the time we found Vicky.” 

Rose pauses. He stares her in the eyes.

“That means they were probably killed at the same time? right?” suggests Jon. Rose thinks. “Do you think it was Todd?” asks Rose.

“I don’t know. When I left, I went searching for my vape, and when I came back it was on the ground. I remember rushing in and kicking it.” 

Rose’s eyes grow large. “Oh my god. The last time I saw Sophie she was outside with Ivan, and she ran off in a rage after shoving him. Then I saw him hitting a vape”

“I-” Jon mutters, but he’s interrupted.

“Okay! I got the keys. Are we ready?” Ivan walks out. He sees them looking at him and he pauses. “What?”

“Ivan, what were you and Sophie arguing about?” asks Rose. Jon stares him in the eyes, Ivan notices this.

“I- We were just-” Ivan stutters. He doesn’t know what to do. 

“Ivan?” asks Jon. Ivan looks at Jon with fear. “I kissed her.”

Jon is stunned. “Jon I’m sorry” he pleads, “We can talk about it, I just think we should get some help.” Rose looks at him. “Right? Rose?” says Ivan, she doesn’t respond.

“Did you kill her?” asks Jon.

Ivan hesitates to answer, “What? Are you serious?”

Jon asks again, “Did you kill her?”

“Jon, come on. Let’s go.” says Ivan, he’s tearing up, “Jon.” Ivan looks at him. Jon shakes his head.

“Ivan, look me in the eyes, and tell me you didn’t kill her” pleads Jon. Ivan hesitates, tears roll down his cheeks. “I-”

“I didn’t mean to” he cries. Jon is heartbroken. “I got scared”. Rose turns away in tears. Jon isn’t saying anything. Ivan falls to his knees. “I went to talk to her after you left, about what I did. I wanted to tell her-” Ivan pauses to compose himself.

Jon sits down on the bench. He’s light-headed. Rose remains quiet, she’s betrayed.

“She was going to tell you, and I-” Ivan puts his hands to his mouth, before letting it drop. “I shoved her, and she slipped on the tiles.” Ivan continues crying.

Jon processes, “You just left her.” 

“I didn’t know what to do!” he pleads, “I was so scared.”

“So you throw her in the water, and you walk away,” Jon adds. Ivan is quiet. “I’m so sorry.” Ivan begins to pick himself up.

“Stay there. Don’t move” commands Jon. Ivan gets back down. “You’re sick, Ivan.” Jon shakes his head, “No worse than that creep in there”

“Jon, please, I love you!” Ivan cries. Jon doesn’t say anything.

“Rose?” Ivan turns to her. She looks him in the eyes and walks up to him slowly. “Rose? I’m sorry, Rose” says Ivan. Rose kicks him in the face, he falls on his back and spits on him. He squirms, so she kicks him one more time in the head. He’s knocked out. Jon looks at her, and she at him.

Jon puts the cigarette in his mouth and lights it. He takes a deep pull and holds it in, closing his eyes. He lets out the smoke, and this weight leaves his body.